U.S. patent number 3,677,269 [Application Number 05/021,659] was granted by the patent office on 1972-07-18 for tobacco additive device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to American Chemosol Corporation. Invention is credited to Perry B. Hudson.
United States Patent |
3,677,269 |
Hudson |
July 18, 1972 |
TOBACCO ADDITIVE DEVICE
Abstract
The invention provides apparatus for treating prepared tobacco
by inserting the tobacco in an enclosure, either as "loose" tobacco
alone or in a temporary container or as a smokers' article such as
a cigarette, cigarillo or cigar, and applying suction or fluid
pressure across the matrix of tobacco so as to result in a flow of
fluid therethrough for the purpose of introducing a treating
substance to be carried by the flow of fluid into the tobacco.
Inventors: |
Hudson; Perry B. (New City,
NY) |
Assignee: |
American Chemosol Corporation
(New York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
21805452 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/021,659 |
Filed: |
March 23, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/302 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F
25/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A24F
25/00 (20060101); A24b 009/00 (); A24b 015/04 ();
A24f 025/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;131/134,170,133A,133R,14B,141,142R,143,144,79,62,31 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Koren; Samuel
Assistant Examiner: Pitrelli; J. F.
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus for treating prepared tobacco comprising means for
supporting the tobacco in an enclosure, a source of treating
substance, means communicating said source of treating substance
with said enclosure, means for applying a differential of fluid
pressure across said enclosure and through the tobacco, said means
for applying a differential of fluid pressure across said enclosure
comprising a body means housing said enclosure, and a movable means
slidable sealingly with respect to said body means and defining a
chamber communicating with said enclosure at a location remote,
with respect to said tobacco, from said means communicating said
source of treating substance with said enclosure, said chamber
being expanded to create a suction, and thus a flow of the treating
substance into the tobacco, on sliding of said movable means with
respect to said body means.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for applying a
differential of fluid pressure across said enclosure comprises
means for applying suction at one location of said enclosure, and
means for introducing propellant fluid and treating substance at
another location thereof.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for
introducing propellant fluid and treating substance comprises
reservoir means, portions of which define a source of propellant
fluid and treating substance, and further portions of which define
an outlet communicating with said other location of said enclosure,
and valve means operatively interposed between said source of
propellant fluid and treating substance and said outlet, said valve
means being opened on movement of said movable means to a
suction-creating position.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said movable means
includes a bellows, said valve means including a control means
operatively engaged by a portion of said bellows to open said valve
means on movement of said bellows to a suction-creating
position.
5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said movable means
comprises a casing means slidable sealingly with respect to said
body means, said valve means including a control means, and
actuating means operatively connected to said control means to open
said valve means on movement of said casing means with respect to
said body means.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said actuating means
includes a resilient means attached to one end to said control
means and at an opposite end to a portion of said casing means.
7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said control means
comprises a cam means slidingly engaged by portions of said casing
means on movement of said casing means with respect to said body
means.
Description
This invention relates to apparatus for treating prepared tobacco
to apply finely divided and fluid substances thereto. In this
specification the term "prepared tobacco" indicates tobacco which
has been reduced from leafsize to a condition suitable for
inclusion in a pipe or smokers' article without further cutting or
shredding.
Sometimes it is desirable to add various substances to tobacco for
use in a pipe or in smoking articles. These substances may be for
instance: flavours and casing solutions containing menthol or
licorice; burn or ash control substances; various humectants or
medicines such as ephedrine or narcotic substances; and psychogenic
drugs including canabinol or euphoric agents. All manner of
substances, including finely-divided powders, solutions and
dispersions, may be infused through or coated upon strands of
tobacco by the apparatus of this invention.
According to the present invention tobacco is treated by inserting
the same in an enclosure, applying a differential of fluid pressure
across the enclosure so as to result in a flow of fluid through the
tobacco, and introducing a treating substance into the flow of
fluid so as to be carried into the tobacco.
The differential of fluid pressure may be obtained by applying
suction at a first location of the enclosure, or a greater than
atmospheric pressure, e.g. as from a propellent fluid, at a second
location of the enclosure, but it is preferred to use both suction
and pressure together or successively as it has been found that
this results in a particularly thorough permeation of the tobacco
matrix by the treating substance.
Where a propellant fluid is used, the treating substance may be
applied separately to the enclosure, but it is preferred to include
the treating substance in the propellant fluid ab initio, or to
obtain mixing of the propellant fluid and the treating substance
immediately prior to application to the tobacco in the
enclosure.
The tobacco may be inserted in the enclosure when in a loose
condition, e.g. for the treatment of pipe tobacco, or loose tobacco
may be temporarily housed in a receiver such as a cartridge or tube
from which it is removed after the treatment. The tobacco may also
five-eighths inserted into the enclosure when incorporated in a
smokers' article such as a cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar, which
may therefore be treated by the smoker himself, as well as at the
factory where they are made.
Apparatus for carrying out the invention comprises broadly means
for supporting the tobacco in an enclosure, means for applying a
differential of fluid pressure across said enclosure so as to
result in flow of fluid through the tobacco, and means for
introducing a treating substance into the flow of fluid, so as to
be carried into the tobacco.
As it is advantageous to use both suction and pressure to obtain
passage of the treating substance into the tobacco, it is preferred
to provide means for applying to the enclosure, at one location
thereof, a propellant fluid at greater than atmospheric pressure,
and means for applying to the enclosure, at another location
thereof, a lower than atmospheric pressure.
For applying suction, the apparatus may have a body in which the
enclosure is housed, a casing being slidable sealingly on said
body, in the manner of a piston and associated cylinder, and
defining an internal space which communicates with the
enclosure.
For applying greater than atmospheric pressure, the apparatus may
include reservoir means containing the treating substance under
pressure, and means for controlling flow of said treating substance
from the reservoir means to the enclosure.
In a preferred form of construction, there are provided means for
applying suction at one location of the enclosure, and other means
for introducing both propellant fluid and the treating substance at
another location of the enclosure. Fore example, there may be
provided reservoir means for the propellant fluid, reservoir means
for the treating substance, and a mixing and control valve
connected to both of said reservoir means. For practical and
commercial considerations, it is advantageous if at least the
reservoirs, and preferably also the mixing and control valve,
constitute an assembly which is removable and replaceable as a
whole when re-charging is required.
The treating substance may be in the form of liquid or gas adapted
to carry dissolved or dispersed substances through the tobacco
matrix and leaving a coating thereon or impregnation therein.
A single cigarette may be treated by placing it within a rigid
tube, applying suction to one end of the tube, for instance by
extending the tube by movement of a plunger or sleeve to create a
vacuum at one end of the cigarette and simultaneously or shortly
thereafter propelling treatment substance through the cigarette
from the other end by blowing a mixture of Freon gas and menthol
for instance from an aerosol can into the tobacco rod.
This treatment can further be applied to a group of articles
simultaneously, such as a pack of 20 cigarettes or cigarillos; or
it may be applied to a rod in a continuous rod cigarette machine by
periodic pulses of carrier fluid applied to sections of rod later
cut apart.
Some embodiments of devices for treating finished smokers'
articles, in accordance with the invention, are hereinafter
particularly described by way of example with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal section, with some parts shown in
elevation, of a first embodiment of cigarette treating device; the
operating handle being shown in an alternate position in dotted
lines
FIG. 1A is a view of the device of FIG. 1 in a different stage of
operation, parts being broken away for illustrative
convenience;
FIG. 2 is a central longitudinal section, with some parts shown in
elevation, of a second embodiment of cigarette treating device;
FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal section, with some parts shown in
elevation, of a modification of the cigarette treating device of
FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a central longitudinal section, with some parts shown in
elevation, of a third embodiment of cigarette treating device;
FIG. 4A is a view of the device of FIG. 4 in a different stage of
operation, parts being broken away for illustrative convenience;
and
FIG. 5 is a central longitudinal section, with some parts shown in
elevation, of a fourth embodiment of cigarette treating device;
FIG. 6 is a central longitudinal section, with some parts shown in
elevation, of a fifth embodiment of cigarette treating device.
FIG. 6A is a view of the device of FIG. 6 in a different stage of
operation, parts being broken away from illustrative
convenience;
Referring to FIG. 1, and FIG. 1A the cigarette treating device
comprises a tubular metal casing 1, which might be for example
about 5 and 1/8 inches in length, 1 and 1/8 inches in depth in the
plane of this drawing, and plane of an inch in width normal to the
plane of the drawing. The casing 1 has a wall portion 2 which
cooperates with a closure 3 to define a chamber 4 to receive a
cigarette 5. The closure 3 is carried by integral arms 6 mounted by
pivots (not shown) on lugs 7 secured to the wall portion 2. The
closure 3 can be pivoted into an open position, as shown in broken
line, in which it permits manual insertion of a cigarette 5 into
the chamber 4. It can also be pivoted into a closed position, as
illustrated in full line, in which it forms a substantially
fluid-tight closure to the chamber 4. Within the casing 1 there is
provided a transverse wall portion 8 carrying an integral tube 9
having a first opening 10 in a portion of the wall 8 against which
one end of the cigarette 5 is butted during insertion. Another
opening 11 of the tube 9 communicates with a bellows chamber 12
defined between the wall 8, an internal transverse wall 13 of the
casing, a resiliently-deformable bellows 14, and end plate 15 of
the bellows, and an operating handle 16 for the bellows, said
handle being slidable movable in a substantially fluid-tight manner
in an external opening 17 defined by the casing 1 and the walls 8
and 13.
In the wall portion 2 there is removably engaged an outlet nozzle
18 of a mixing and control valve 19 having a first inlet 30
connected to a reservoir 21 of a product for treating the
cigarette. The valve also has a second inlet 22 connected to a
reservoir 23 of a propellant fluid. An opening and closing control
24 of the valve is connected by a pivot to one end of a link arm 25
connected at its other end by a pivot to one arm of a bell crank 26
pivoted on a bracket 27 mounted on the reservoir 21. The other arm
of the bell crank 26 extends through a slot in the wall 13 so as to
be presented for abutment by the end plate 15.
The operation is as follows:
The handle 16 is pulled outwardly to its fullest extent, as shown
by the broken line, in FIG. 1 thereby compressing the bellows. It
is assumed that the handle 16 would be a frictional sliding fit in
its opening 17 sufficiently to remain in the open position against
the resilient force exerted by the bellows. The closure 3 is then
swung into its open position, and the cigarette 5 is inserted in
the chamber 4 with its left-hand end, in this drawing, abutting
against the wall 8 at the opening 10. The closure 3 is then swung
into its closed position. The handle 16 is then pushed firmly
inwards in the direction shown in FIG. 1A so as to extend the
bellows 14 and create a lowering of pressure in the chamber 12, and
thus suction in the tube 9 and through the cigarette butted against
the wall 8. As the handle 16 is moved inwardly, the end plate 15
trips past the longer arm of the bell crank 26 as shown in FIG. 1A
and opens the valve 19 for a short period. This releases, through
the outlet nozzle 18, a short burst of a mixture of propellant and
treating product which passes into the cigarette chamber 4 and
thereafter passes through the cigarette as a result partly of its
own greater than atmospheric pressure and partly of the suction
being applied to the remote end of the cigarette. After a short
interval, the closure 3 is again pivoted into open position, and
the treated cigarette extracted. The same operations can be
repeated, for treatment one by one of a plurality of cigarettes,
for as long as the contents of the reservoirs 21 and 23 are still
available.
The casing 1 has a removable end cap 28 to provide access to the
chamber 29 in which the assembly of valve 19, reservoir 21, and
reservoir 23 are housed. This assembly, including the valve
operating means 24, 25, 26, 27, would be made as a separable unit
which could be inserted as a sliding push-fit into the chamber 29,
and which would be replaced by a fresh unit when exhausted.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown in a second embodiment of
cigarette treating device comprising a cylindrical body 30 on which
a casing 31 is longitudinally slidable in fluid-tight sealing
manner. The body 30 has a removable end cap 32 to permit the
insertion into a chamber 33 of an assembly consisting of a mixing
and control valve 34, a reservoir 35 of treating product, and a
reservoir 36 of propellant fluid. In the body 30, there is secured
a tapered seating 37 having at its smaller end an opening to
receive, as a push-fit, an outlet nozzle 38 of the valve 34. The
casing 31 has a removable end cap 39 to permit the insertion of a
cigarette 40 into the casing with one end firmly and sealingly
engaged in the tapered seating 37 adjacent the valve nozzle 38. The
valve 34 has a control rod 41 which, when pulled longitudinally in
the direction away from the valve, opens the valve. On the casing
31 there is provided a lug 42, and a tension spring 43 is connected
to the rod 41 and the lug 42.
The operation is as follows:
With the casing in its inward position as illustrated, the end cap
39 is removed and a cigarette 40 is inserted. Then the casing 31 is
pulled firmly in the direction of the arrow "A" with respect to the
body 30. This causes a lowering of pressure in the chamber 44,
causing suction in the cigarette to result in a flow from the end
adjacent the valve 34 to the end adjacent the end cap 39. At the
same time, the valve rod 41 is pulled by the spring 43 and opens
the valve, thereby releasing a mixture of propellant and treating
product through the nozzle 38 into the cigarette. The casing 31 is
then returned to its rest position, the end cap 39 removed, and the
treated cigarette extracted. The assembly of valve 34, reservoir 35
and reservoir 36 would be made as an integral unit which could be
removed and replaced by another unit, through the end cap 32.
Referring now to FIG. 3, which shows a modification of FIG. 2, the
construction and operation are exactly the same as described in
relation to FIG. 2, with the exception that the valve 34 is secured
fixedly in the body 30, and has two piercer inlet tubes 45 and 46
which serve respectively for engagement into reservoirs 47 and 48
respectively for propellant fluid and for treating product. The
pierceable cap portion of the reservoirs 47 and 48 has not been
shown in detail, but such pierceable cap portions are well known in
the art of refilling butane-fuelled cigarette lighters. The
reservoirs 47 and 48 can be extracted, by removal of the end cap
32, and replaced by fresh charged reservoirs.
Referring now to FIG. 4, and FIG. 4A there is shown a third
embodiment of cigarette treating device comprising a body 49 having
an internal wall 50 defining a cylindrical chamber 51 in which a
casing 52 is longitudinally slidable in fluid-tight sealing manner.
The wall 50 also serves to define, in body 49, a chamber 53 to
receive a cigarette 54 butted at one end against an internal wall
55, and at the other end against a circular rim 56. A closure 57,
fitting in sealing manner to the body 49, can be removed to permit
insertion and removal of the cigarette. On the wall 55 there is
mounted an outlet nozzle 58 communicating with two inlet passages
50 and 60 which open in the wall 50.
At one end, the casing 52 has a rim 61 for grasping with fingers to
draw the casing in the direction of the arrow "B." At its other
end, the casing contains a mixing and control valve 62 having inlet
openings to which are connected a reservoir 63 for propellant
fluid, and two reservoirs 64, 65 for treating product. The valve 62
has a first outlet 66 for propellant, and a second outlet 67 for
treating product. In the valve 62 there is provided a recess 68 in
which is positioned a control lever 69 for opening the valve. On
the inside surface of the body 49, adjacent the end remote from the
valve 62, there is provided a removable screw 70 acting as a stop
lug. The casing 52 is provided with an external longitudinal groove
(not shown) in which the lug 70 rides during longitudinal movement
of the casing with respect to the body 49. When the casing 52 has
been pulled out to its fullest extend, the lug 70 abuts against the
control lever 69 as seen in FIG. 4A and thereby opens the valve,
and at the same time prevents further outward movement of the
casing.
The operation is as follows:
With the casing in the inward position shown in FIG. 4 the closure
57 is removed, and a cigarette is inserted. The closure is then
replaced. The casing 52 is then pulled firmly outwardly, with
respect to the body 49, in the direction of the arrow "B" as shown
in FIG. 4A. This causes a lowering of pressure in the chamber 51,
and this is communicated to the end of the cigarette abutting
against the rim 56. When the casing reaches the end of its stroke,
the valve control lever 69 is actuated to open the valve and
release propellant and treating fluid through the respective
outlets 66 and 67 into the respective passages 59 and 60 which are
aligned therewith as seen in FIG. 4A, and thence through the nozzle
58 into the other end of the cigarette. The casing 52 is then
pushed back into rest position, the closure 57 is removed, and the
treated cigarette extracted.
The casing 52, containing the valve 62, and the reservoirs 63, 64,
65 would be removable as a unit, and replaceable by a fresh charge
unit.
REferring now to FIG. 5, which shows a fourth embodiment of
cigarette treating device, the device comprises a cylindrical body
71 on which a casing 72, having a hole 72A in its end wall, is
slidable longitudinally in fluid-tight sealing manner. In the body
71 there is provided an apertured internal wall 73 against which
there can be abutted one end of a cigarette 74. The other end of
the cigarette is seated against a lug 75 on the internal surface of
the body. In the body there is positioned a mixing valve 76 having
respective inlets to which there are connected a reservoir 77 for
propellant fluid, and reservoirs 78 for treating product. On the
outlet of the mixing valve 76 there is secured an outlet control
valve 79 which is suction-responsive, that is to say if a lower
than atmospheric pressure is applied to its outlet nozzle 79A an
internal diaphragm or bellows (not shown) is actuated to open a
needle valve and allow escape of the mixture of propellant and
treating product coming from the reservoirs.
The operation is as follows:
The casing 72 is drawn completely off the body 71. A cigarette 74
is then placed in the position shown. The casing is then replaced
on the body, in the position shown. Then, with a finger placed over
the hole 72A in the end of the casing, to seal it, the casing is
pulled in the direction of the arrow "C," but not completely off
the body. The movement of the casing causes a lowering of pressure
within the casing, and this is transmitted, through the cigarette,
to the nozzle 79a. The suction-responsive valve 79 accordingly
opens and allows a mixture of propellant and treating product to
flow into the cigarette until such time as the equalization of
pressure in the casing allows the valve 79 to close again. The
casing is then pulled fully off the body, leaving the end hole
uncovered, and the treated cigarette extracted.
The body 71 has a removable end cap 80 which can be unscrewed to
permit removal and replacement of the assembly consisting of the
valves 76, 79a and the reservoirs 77, 78 and their replacement by a
fresh charged assembly.
Referring now to FIG. 6 and FIG. 6A, which shows a fifth embodiment
of cigarette treating device, the device comprises a cylindrical
tubular body 81 which is fitted at one end with a screw-threaded
cap 82 having an air entry opening 83. In the wall of the body
there is formed a rib 84 and this, together with a packing ring 85,
serves as a bearing for a longitudinally slidable hollow
cylindrical casing 86. One end of the casing is closed by an end
wall 87, and the other end is open and is provided with an internal
flange 88 which serves as a stop to abut against the rib 84 and
prevent complete withdrawal of the casing off the body. Within the
body 81 there is a longitudinal internal wall 89 which defines an
internal chamber 90 to receive a cigarette 91. In the chamber are
provided apertured transverse walls 92 and 93 against which the
respective ends of the cigarette are butted. In a chamber 94, open
to atmosphere through the opening 83, there is seated a manifold
block having a first passage 96 which provides a communication
between the air entry chamber 94 and the opening of the wall 92,
and a second passage 97 which provides a communication between a
port 98, in the wall 89, and the opening of the wall 92. In a
chamber 99 there is disposed a mixing and control valve 100 to
which are coupled a reservoir 101 for propellant fluid, and two
reservoirs 102 for treating product. The valve 100 has an outlet
port 103 aligned with the port 98. In a recess 104 of the valve 100
there is a lug 105 which, when depressed, opens the valve. In a
recess 106 of the wall of the body 81 there is provided a cam block
107 urged outwardly by a spring 107a. In the wall of the body 81
there is provided a longitudinal slot 108 of suitable dimensions to
allow passage of a cigarette. A similar slot 109 is provided in the
wall of the casing 86. An outturned wall 110 around the slot in the
body forms a sliding seal with the casing 86.
The operation is as follows:
With the slot 109 aligned with the slot 108, a cigarette is
inserted into the body and pressed into position with its ends
abutting the walls 92 and 93. The casing 86 is then rotated
sufficiently on the body 81 to take the slots 109 and 108 out of
alignment, and to effectively seal off the chamber 90. The casing
86 is then pulled in the direction of the arrow "C," causing a
lowering of pressure within the casing. When the casing has been
pulled to its maximum extent, the internal flange 88 of its open
end rides along the cam block and opens the valve 100 as shown in
FIG. 6A. Accordingly, there is then simultaneous drawing in of
atmospheric air, through the passage 96, and feed of mixed
propellant and treating fluid, through the passage 97, into one end
of the cigarette, at the wall 92, and through the cigarette to the
other end adjacent the wall 93. The casing is then pushed fully
back in the reverse direction, and rotated to bring the slots 108
and 109 into alignment to permit the treated cigarette to be
removed.
The valve 100, and the reservoirs 101 and 102 would be made as an
integral assembly which could be extracted and replaced by removal
of the end cap 82.
In the above description with reference to all of the embodiments
illustrated, it has been assumed that the article to be treated is
a cigarette. It will be clear that other elongated bodies
containing tobacco, e.g. cigarillos and cigars could be inserted by
adopting suitable dimensions for the device. In particular, instead
of a manufactured smoking article, there could be used a tubular
container such as a cartridge into which loose tobacco, such as
pipe tobacco, could be inserted prior to introduction into the
device. Moreover, in certain instances, tobacco could be inserted
loose into the receiving chamber of the device, see for example the
embodiment of FIG. 1.
All of the embodiments illustrated provide for substantially
simultaneous application of both suction and pressure to the
article to be treated. However, such simultaneous application is
not essential, and sequential operation could be used, e.g. by
inserting a known time delay or lost-motion device in the
valve-operating linkage. The details of the mixing and control
valves in all of the embodiments form no part of the present
invention and any conventional valves may be used for this
purpose.
The apparatus could be associated with other smokers' items, such
as pyrophonic lighters, cigarette or cigar cases, tobacco
containers and the like, and could be provided as an adjunct to
vending machines.
* * * * *